Now Viewing: mauser_c96Tag type: General The Mauser C96, a.k.a. the "Broomhandle" Mauser is one of the earliest successful semi-automatic pistols, it was made by German arms manufacturer Mauser from 1896 to 1937. Compared to most later semiautomatic handguns using a detachable box magazine housed inside the grip, the C96 used an integral box magazine in front of the trigger which was loaded with "stripper clips," (much like military rifles of the time period), and had a distinctive "broomhandle" style grip, which could be used with a detachable wooden stock that also doubled as the pistol's holster. The later M-712 Schnellfeuer versions would use detachable magazines and a select-fire system that allowed it to fire fully automatically, at a very high rate of fire. The C96 was originally chambered for 7.63x25mm Mauser, though variants that used 9mm Parabellum, .45 ACP and various other calibers were also made. It saw use by the Germans in both World Wars, as well as China, Spain, Italy, the USSR, the Ottoman Empire, and even by officers in the UK (where it was famously the sidearm of choice of Winston_Churchill during his military career). There were many unlicensed copies of the C96 made in Spain starting in the 1920s (Spanish law not recognizing foreign patents at the time), varying between almost as good if not even better, to somewhat poor, with most makers using their normal branding, while some would closely imitate Mauser's own branding and markings as to make their copy look more legit. Spanish copies would even be offered with detachable magazines and full-auto fire many years before Mauser devised their own 'Schnellfeuer' model. Much of this counterfeit gunmaking was targeted towards China, which was in a state of civil war (1929-1949). An international embargo forbade the export of rifles to the country, but not pistols, the C96 and its kin was thus not restricted and was free to be imported, so in addition to being well liked as a pistol, it was especially appreciated for how with the stock attached, it could be used as a lightweight and rapid-fire (or even full-auto) carbine for short ranges, making it rather popular with the various factions within China at the time. It in fact was popular enough that not only would various other companies sell their own non-clone pistols with similar holster-stock combinations to appeal to this seemingly insatiable market, imitations of the C96, its own clones, and other pistols adapted for this style of accessory, would all be cloned and imitated within China itself, quality ranging from terrifyingly poor to genuinely incredibly good. See also handgun list_of_weapons Other Wiki Information Last updated: 06/17/23 2:17 PM by chopblock This entry is not locked and you can edit it as you see fit. |
     
|